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International Cricket Captain: Forumer's Challenge

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
I'm thinking I should probably be making a bigger deal out of the final match.

I can't do it over-by-over like the WC final, so I think it might be more fun to submit end of day reports, in genuine headlined style rather than the as-we-go-along style I normally write the reports in.

Does that sound like a good idea? It'd probably take me a couple of hours to get through the match like that, so people would still have the chance to comment on it as it goes.
that would be awesome.. but then you are already doing an awesome job. :)
 

morgieb

Request Your Custom Title Now!
I'm thinking I should probably be making a bigger deal out of the final match.

I can't do it over-by-over like the WC final, so I think it might be more fun to submit end of day reports, in genuine headlined style rather than the as-we-go-along style I normally write the reports in.

Does that sound like a good idea? It'd probably take me a couple of hours to get through the match like that, so people would still have the chance to comment on it as it goes.
What final match? I thought the Aussie/Sri Lanka (CWXI) series was a 2 match series?
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
Capone and Dean run through Australia

CricketWeb 69/0 (Narang 26*, Heads 37*) trail Australia 211 all out (Martyn 56, Capone 3-47, Dean 3-51) by 146 runs


Offspinner Mark Dean took 3-51 to help dismiss the home side for 211

Al Capone and Mark Dean picked up three wickets each as CW produced a dominant all-round performance on the first day of the final, deciding Test. Australia were bowled out for 211 in just over two sessions, before Ishan Narang and John Heads safely made it to the close on 65/0, cutting the deficit down to 146.

CW had inserted the Australians to bat on what looked to be a good bowling pitch. There were worries of that decision backfiring when Hayden and Jaques started solidly for the home side, progressing to 36/0 after the first hour. Capone came on at first change and got the breakthrough, part of a fierce spell that took out the opener's off stump.

The left-armer got the next wicket of Ponting, the Australian captain continuing his poor series with an edge behind on 14. By this stage Dean had come on for a handful of overs before lunch, and the session truly turned CW's way when the offspinner had Jaques caught bat-pad. Lunch came with the score on 76/3.

David Hussey had gotten the better of CW all series, and today it took something quite special to get rid of him. A fantastic diving catch from Riley dismissed Hussey for just 4, and from there the Australians never really recovered.

Dean picked up his third wicket when Gilchrist attempted to cut a ball that was nowhere near short enough, Dharan taking the bottom edge. Capone did likewise as Watson cover drove him straight to slip, and the pair had taken six of the top seven.

Damien Martyn was the only man keeping Australia in the game at this point, and he brought up a fighting fifty from 124 balls. He couldn't do it all on his own, however, and shortly before tea he was undone by a peach from Dong. Australia reached the interval limping on 176/7.

McDonald and Lee were able to cling on just enough to nudge the score past the 200 mark, but when Winne broke the stand by clipping Lee's off stump, the tail soon folded against Hing. The left arm spinner dismissed Gillespie lbw for 1, and the last man out McDonald (21 off 65 balls) to end the Australian innings.

From there, the CW openers ought to have been content to see out the 13 remaining overs to stumps, but instead took advantage of some poor Australian bowling to assert their dominance over the day.

Gillespie's fourth over was taken for 14 runs, as its first three balls were short and all smoked to the midwicket boundary by Heads. The fifty partnership came up in only the tenth over, and by the time stumps were called, CW had taken full control of the Test.
 
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Howe_zat

Audio File
Narang's epic outshines Watson's comeback

35/0 & 221 all out trail CricketWeb 338 all out (Narang 160, Watson 5-67) by 92 runs


Watson took 5-67 but couldn't get the big wicket of Narang

Ishang Narang compiled an outstanding 160 to hold off an Australian fightback on the second day. Shane Watson took 5-67 to get through the CWer middle order, before Hayden and Jaques compiled an unbeaten 35 before stumps, but Australia were still 92 behind thanks to Narang's innings.

The opener fought a lone hand as he became the only CW batsman to pass 40, guiding the visitors past 300 and earning them a lead of 127. The pitch had lost much of its early movement, and there was a succession of batsmen throwing away starts rather than being rooted out, but Narang kept his nerve almost throughout the day to hold CW's advantage in the final Test.

The trouble started early for CW when Heads nicked off against Gillespie, having added only 2 to his overnight total. Watson came on and struck twice in his first over, the allrounder's wicket-to-wicket line dismissing both Ballich (4) and Narang for a duck. They had slipped to 84/3.

From there Spark decided to counter-attack, and as Narang brought up his half-century, he was able to put together a swift fifty partnership with the opener before lunch. Spark's positive run was ended all to early when he played around a straight ball from Court, and was lbw for 28 off 30 balls.

Riley was next to go, as after having edged Watson to the boundary twice, he was lbw for 14 as Watson picked up his third. CW were grateful to get to the lunch break on 168/5.

Narang and Winne were able to make healthy progress after the break, especially against some wayward bowling by Gillespie. Narang had registered an excellent hundred, raising three figures from 182 balls shortly after the score passed 200. The pair had put on 63 against the new ball bowlers before Watson came back to get the breakthrough, yet another lbw as Winne departed for 23.

Hing absurdly ran himself out for 10, attempting to take a single after hitting it straight to midwicket, and Capone could only manage 6 from 25 before becoming Watson's fourth lbw and fifth wicket just after tea. Nonetheless Narang was still there, and with Dean at the other end he brought up CW's 300.

Australia had delayed taking the second new ball, and Narang finally departed for 160, to Andrew McDonald with an 86-over old pill. Dean had held up reasonably well at the other end, and having made his batting cameos a regular in recent matches, hit his way to 31 off 32 before he was the last man out, and pushed the total up to 338.

The CWers were disappointed not to get a wicket in the closing stages, but had still left Australia's batsmen with it all still to do.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
Martyn & Hayden bring it back into the balance

Australia 383/5 (Hayden 84, Martyn 95*) & 211 a/o lead CricketWeb 338 a/o by 256 runs


Martyn and Gilchrist's stand of 108 broke CW's control over the match

Matthew Hayden's 84 was followed by Damien Martyn's 95* as Australia took a solid lead on day three. Having started the day 92 runs behind, the home side lost Phil Jaques to injury but despite that got themselves into a good position, 256 ahead with five wickets lost.

On a day that stood in stark contrast to the first, David Hussey and Adam Gilchrist both chipped in with fifties as the CWer attack was made to look somewhat ordinary.

The day began badly for Australia, and especially for Jaques as a nasty bouncer from Dong's second over struck him hard on the jaw. Jaques was retired hurt on 24, and is not expected to feature again in the match.

CW continued to hold the home side back, as Ponting's positive 20 was ended with a nick behind off Dean. Instead it was the partnership between Hayden and Hussey that got Australia the lead, both compiling a fifty each, and a stand worth 106 that lasted midway into the afternoon.

With the score 184/1, but "effectively" 57/2, Dong kept the advantage with the CWers as he struck twice. First Hayden was gone for 85 as he misjudged an in-cutter to bowl him, and two overs later Hussey fell into the same trap, this time out lbw for 53.

It was the last point where the CWers felt in control as Martyn and Gilchrist fought back. The second century partnership of the innings saw them both to half-centuries, Gilchrist's an aggressive 80-ball effort. the stand was only broken in the evening when Gilchrist charged down the track to Hing, only for the spinner to send it down the leg side to have the wicket-keeper stumped.

There was little respite as Martyn and Watson took the score past 300, and soon past 350 in the final hour. Watson looked to be putting together a superb all-round match, but a cruel run-out in the dying light saw his contribution ended at 34.

The CWers went off with only four more wickets needed, but with the lead stretching past 250, they would need to get them soon.
 

GotSpin

Hall of Fame Member
35/0 & 221 all out trail CricketWeb 338 all out (Narang 160, Watson 5-67) by 92 runs


Watson took 5-67 but couldn't get the big wicket of Narang

Ishang Narang compiled an outstanding 160 to hold off an Australian fightback on the second day. Shane Watson took 5-67 to get through the CWer middle order, before Hayden and Jaques compiled an unbeaten 35 before stumps, but Australia were still 92 behind thanks to Narang's innings.

The opener fought a lone hand as he became the only CW batsman to pass 40, guiding the visitors past 300 and earning them a lead of 127. The pitch had lost much of its early movement, and there was a succession of batsmen throwing away starts rather than being rooted out, but Narang kept his nerve almost throughout the day to hold CW's advantage in the final Test.

The trouble started early for CW when Heads nicked off against Gillespie, having added only 2 to his overnight total. Watson came on and struck twice in his first over, the allrounder's wicket-to-wicket line dismissing both Ballich (4) and Narang for a duck. They had slipped to 84/3.

From there Spark decided to counter-attack, and as Narang brought up his half-century, he was able to put together a swift fifty partnership with the opener before lunch. Spark's positive run was ended all to early when he played around a straight ball from Court, and was lbw for 28 off 30 balls.

Riley was next to go, as after having edged Watson to the boundary twice, he was lbw for 14 as Watson picked up his third. CW were grateful to get to the lunch break on 168/5.

Narang and Winne were able to make healthy progress after the break, especially against some wayward bowling by Gillespie. Narang had registered an excellent hundred, raising three figures from 182 balls shortly after the score passed 200. The pair had put on 63 against the new ball bowlers before Watson came back to get the breakthrough, yet another lbw as Winne departed for 23.

Hing absurdly ran himself out for 10, attempting to take a single after hitting it straight to midwicket, and Capone could only manage 6 from 25 before becoming Watson's fourth lbw and fifth wicket just after tea. Nonetheless Narang was still there, and with Dean at the other end he brought up CW's 300.

Australia had delayed taking the second new ball, and Narang finally departed for 160, to Andrew McDonald with an 86-over old pill. Dean had held up reasonably well at the other end, and having made his batting cameos a regular in recent matches, hit his way to 31 off 32 before he was the last man out, and pushed the total up to 338.

The CWers were disappointed not to get a wicket in the closing stages, but had still left Australia's batsmen with it all still to do.
Jeeze. This sim is quite realistic
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
CW only 116 runs from victory

CricketWeb 338 all out & 177/2 (Narang 70, Ballich 63*) trail Australia 221 a/o & 421/9 (Martyn 116*) by 115


Martyn's hundred wasn't enough to keep CW out of it on day four

CW wrested baack control of the final Test on the fourth day as Capone and Dean finished off the Australian innings, before Narang and Ballich saw the visitors to the close with only 115 more runs needed and with eight wickets in hand.

Damien Martyn's unbeaten century looked like it could be enough, when it set the CWers a tricky 295 to win in the fourth innings. But fifties from Narang and Ballich, forged during a second wicket stand of 82, meant that only the visitors looked like winning at the end of day four.

Once again, CW claimed the first play of the day as McDonald was out fourth ball, a yorker from Capone completely beating him. That meant that Damien Martyn was to be solely relied upon for setting a target, and though the stylish right-hander brought up his ton as Australia passed 400, Lee fel for just 1 off 21 when he edged Capone to slip.

Gillespie's job was to stick at the other end while Martyn increased the lead, but the CWers did an excellent job of restricting the scoring while attacking the tailenders. Dean had the final say, getting the last two wickets in successive balls. Martyn was stranded on 116* from 268 deliveries.

CW were set set 295 to win, and first the openers reached the lunch break without loss. In the afternoon Heads found himself restricted, and with only 16 from 51 balls to his name, was finally out lbw to Lee.

Narang and Ballich had no such problems as they eased the score into three figures shortly after tea. Narang, being the only CWer to have scored twin centuries, missed out on the feat this time when he edged Watson through to Gilchrist for 70, but nonetheless had given CW a comfortable position.

By the time Ballich and Dharan had reached the close, the score was up to a healthy 177/2. They would go out on the final morning confident of victory.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
CW ascend to no.1 with clinical win

CricketWeb 295/3 (Ballich 81, Narang 70, Dharan 64*) & 338 a/o beat Australia 421/9 & 221 a/o by 7 wickets


CW's victory in the third Test grants them the World no.1 Test ranking

CW needed only half of the final day to comfortably and professionally chase down the remaining 115 runs in the final Test, taking them to a 2-1 series victory and making them officially the world's best Test team.

Michael Ballich's 81 was followed by a solid fifty partnership between Dharan (64*) and Spark (45*) as Australia were restricted to just the one wicket for the day.

Ballich would have been disappointed to not make it to the end of the session, having worked hard in his innings of over 200 deliveries, but was bowled by Lee with 15 minutes remaining in the morning.

That brought Spark to the crease, who linked up with Dharan for the remaining hour and knocked off the required 84 runs for victory.

Ishan Narang was awarded Man of the Match for his 160 and 70, while the Player of the Series award was granted to Mark Dean, for his 15 wickets.
 

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Athlai

Not Terrible
Australia 383/5 (Hayden 84, Martyn 95*) & 211 a/o lead CricketWeb 338 a/o by 256 runs


Martyn and Gilchrist's stand of 108 broke CW's control over the match

Matthew Hayden's 84 was followed by Damien Martyn's 95* as Australia took a solid lead on day three. Having started the day 92 runs behind, the home side lost Phil Jaques to injury but despite that got themselves into a good position, 256 ahead with five wickets lost.

On a day that stood in stark contrast to the first, David Hussey and Adam Gilchrist both chipped in with fifties as the CWer attack was made to look somewhat ordinary.

The day began badly for Australia, and especially for Jaques as a nasty bouncer from Dong's second over struck him hard on the jaw. Jaques was retired hurt on 24, and is not expected to feature again in the match.

CW continued to hold the home side back, as Ponting's positive 20 was ended with a nick behind off Dean. Instead it was the partnership between Hayden and Hussey that got Australia the lead, both compiling a fifty each, and a stand worth 106 that lasted midway into the afternoon.

With the score 184/1, but "effectively" 57/2, Dong kept the advantage with the CWers as he struck twice. First Hayden was gone for 85 as he misjudged an in-cutter to bowl him, and two overs later Hussey fell into the same trap, this time out lbw for 53.

It was the last point where the CWers felt in control as Martyn and Gilchrist fought back. The second century partnership of the innings saw them both to half-centuries, Gilchrist's an aggressive 80-ball effort. the stand was only broken in the evening when Gilchrist charged down the track to Hing, only for the spinner to send it down the leg side to have the wicket-keeper stumped.

There was little respite as Martyn and Watson took the score past 300, and soon past 350 in the final hour. Watson looked to be putting together a superb all-round match, but a cruel run-out in the dying light saw his contribution ended at 34.

The CWers went off with only four more wickets needed, but with the lead stretching past 250, they would need to get them soon.
Since when did Australia have home games in New Zealand? :ph34r:
 

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